THE PREFACE To Mr. POPE.
[]I Am ſo little inclin'd to trouble even Men of Merit, with the Addreſs of ſuch Trifles as Theſe, that it was impoſſible I ſhou'd ſo much as have thought of Yourſelf with that View, if Honeſt Bernard, your Bookſeller, had not inform'd me, That You (I ſuppoſe it was out of the Fulneſs of your known Zeal for our Church and Conſtitution) had taken upon you to aſſert, that Printing any thing in Praiſe of the Czar of Ruſſia wou'd be receiv'd as a Satyr on the Government.
'Tis poſſible, that under this Diſguiſe of Opinion, Your Exceſs of Good-breeding may have conceal'd your Diſlike of the Performance; for I find it a Difficulty to conceive, how ſo whimſical an Objection cou'd come into a Head, ſo well ſtor'd with Judgment, as we are to conclude Yours to be, from Your Eſſay on Criticiſm.
Let either of theſe ſage Caſes be the Right, I conſider their Importance as Equal; and take this Occaſion, with a Frankneſs, like Your own, to aſſure You, that my Eſteem for Your Genius as a Poet, is ſo very conſiderable, that it is hardly exceeded by my Con⯑tempt of Your Vanity.
What led me to embrace an Opportunity of knowing Your Opinion, was a Diſpoſition which two Lines in Your Eſſay above-mention'd ſhall explain for me;
Truſt not Your-ſelf; but Your Defects to know,
Make Uſe of Ev'ry Friend:—And Ev'ry Foe:
I cou'd not, I confeſs, conſider you as a Friend, having that very great Misfortune to languiſh under, of not being reckon'd in the Number of Your Acquaintance: But in the Laſt of the two Lights, I preſum'd, I might regard You, ſince Mr. Dennis, for whoſe Skill in Judging I profeſs an Eſteem, has aſſured us, that You are a Kind of Foe to e⯑very Body but Your-ſelf, and on that Foundation, ſupports his rough Attempt to pull the Lyon's Skin from a certain little Aſs he there mentions, and I fear he means You, Sir.
When I conſider'd You in this Character, I made no doubt but any Poem wou'd have had the Good Fortune to come out of Your Hands well examined, that I ſhou'd have heard of Rough Verſe, improper Sentiments, and a World of Poetical Errors: But I profeſs Your Penetration over-ſhot all my Fears, and I cannot find Words to expreſs my Aſtoniſh⯑ment at Your Capacity, when Mr. Lintott liſp'd out, That Mr. Pope ſaid, there were ſeveral good Things in the Northern-Star, BUT, it would be taken for an Inſult on the Government: FOR, tho' the Czar is King George 's Ally; yet we are like⯑ly to quarrel with Sweden; and Muſcovy, whiſper'd Bernard, lies, he ſays, in the North!
If this pleaſant Diſcovery was Your Real Opinion, we muſt, I'm aſraid, learn to pity the Weakneſs of a Judgment, which, I know, is Heroic enough to wiſh rather for Envy, tho' a ſturdier Paſſion, and agree with You heartily, that,
A Little Learning is a dangerous Thing.
But if you diſlik'd the Poem, as a Poem, why did you not fairly avow the Diſreliſh? I could have own'd a Conviction of Error, with the ſame Satisfaction, I feel, when I repay a Civility. Shall I put you in Mind, that Diſlike not own'd openly, ſtands condemn'd by a Judge, whoſe Sentence Mr. Pope, of all Mankind, will be the laſt to appeal from,
Be Niggards of Advice, on no Pretence,
For the worſt Avarice is that of Senſe:
With mean Complacence ne'er betray your Truſt,
Nor be ſo civil, as to prove unjuſt:
Pope 's Eſſay on Criticiſm.
I muſt, by no Means, imagine, that a ſupercilious Reſult, from Neglect of examining into the Merits of a Cauſe, he pretends to decide, can he charg'd with any Juſtice on the Au⯑thor of the following Lines, unleſs he was religious enough to write them, with Deſign to laſh himſelf by Way of Penance.
Of all the Cauſes, which conſpire to blind
Man's Erring Judgment, and miſguide the Mind;
What the weak Head, with ſtrongeſt Byaſs, rules,
Is, Pride, the neverfailing Vice of Fools.
Whatever Nature has, in Worth, deny'd,
She gives. in large Recruits, of needful Pride:
In ſhort, if I writ Verſe often enough to make my Vanity Rampant; I ſhould ſhrewdly ſuſpect, that you were mightily taken with this Poem, ſince you thought it worth your while [] to give it an ill Charàcter; for You▪ who rever iie, have told the World, and I ſuppoſe you aſſert Nothing but from Your own Knowledge,
That ſtill the Worſt with moſt Regret, Commend,
And each bad Writer is as bad a Friend.
And while Self-Love each jealous Writer rules,
Contending Wits become the Sport of Fools:
But. if I was not afraid, that You wou'd think me Ill-natur'd, I wou'd obſerve in your Favour, on this Occaſion, that tho' all theſe foregoing Verſes are Your own Words, they way poſibly be very different from Your Sentiments; for I remember, that, among the reſt, You, tell us, by Way of Warning.
That Men of Wit may their own Rules invade,
As Kings diſpenſe with Laws, themſelves have made.
I will therefore take Advantage, from my having been pretty converſant with your Writings, to ſeek a better Reaſon yet, for the Oddneſs of your Notion, that this North⯑ern-Star is a Satyr on the Government. Your abovemention'd Cabinet of Sentences is ſo well furniſhed, that, like a Maſquerade-ſhop at Venice. it will give a Man what Face he pleaſes in a Twinkling; but I preſume, I have hit the Right Nail, when I ſtop at the fol⯑lowing Simile.
All ſeems infected, that th' infected Spy,
As all looks Yellow to the Jaundic'd Eve:
But however, tho▪ as Teague in the Comedy, finds his Mouth run from one Side to the other, and cannot for his Life ſay Ladyſhip to Mrs. Day, without laughing in her Face, I cannot without much Difficulty grow Grave, when I compare the Judge with the Sen⯑tence; yet to allow all poſſible fair Quarter, let us ſuppoſe, that the Czar, as He is not; were now actually our Enemy—Are his Merits leſs ſhining? Does His Glory depend on His Friendſhip for Britain? Contemptible Meanneſs of Thought! Is it neceſſary to⯑wards becoming a Patriot, among the Engliſh, that every Thing muſt be hated, that is▪ Foreign? At that Rate the toto diviſos orbe Britannos wou'd be more applicable to our Humour than it is to our Sitvation.
Next to deſerving well ourſelves, it is the nobleſt Perfection of Nature, to admire and applaud thoſe, who do ſo; But to have no Ear open to Renown at a Diſtance, were baſe, vain and brutal, equally diſtaſteful to Humanity and Wiſdom. We may talk what we pleaſe of our Natural Advantages. There is one Natural Defect, which will ſha⯑dow them All; and which makes it impoſſible to widen our Power, till we enlarge our Conceptions.
I am apt to believe that Nothing has contributed more to this Narrowneſs of Mind, than the Flatteries of our Poets: who generally writing for a precarious Subſiſtance, can no Way ſo eaſily ſucceed, as by falling in with the Weakneſs and Byaſs of Mens Natures; and hence all our Women are Nymphs, Angels, or Goddeſſes; our Men, Demi-Hero's; all our Soldiers are invincible; all our Generals beyond Caeſar; all our Kings like Auguſ⯑tus; and every Lord who has a Penny in his Pocket, and a Crotchet in His Imagination, a very Mecaenas.
A Poet ſhou'd ſometimes ſtand high, and look wide for a Subject; If He is always Do⯑meſtic, He will be often unnatural. Virgil's celebrated Praiſe of his Italy, had been Falſhood and F [...]attery, apply'd to Great Britain. He knew and admired the Delights of His Country, and acted as became Him, when he juſtly commended them. But our High⯑way-Poets, whoſe utmoſt Reach of Skill is a Poor Imitation, forget that they make Them⯑ſelves contemptible▪ inſtead of ornamenting their Subject, when Peace in our Climate is dreſs'd in her Olives; when Pan fills our Woods, and Tritons our Seas; and our Shep⯑herds ſit Piping, like the Swains of Arcadia.
A meer Poet, that is to ſay, a Wretch, who has nothing but the Jingle in his Brain to ring Chimes to his Vanity, and whoſe whole Trade is Rhyme-jobbirg; ſuch a Creature is certainly the moſt worthleſs Incumbrance of his Country. His Arrogance is the only Thing more Remarkable than his Ignorance. The fantaſtical Merit that ſwells him, is, like o⯑ther Ill-Humors▪ the more noxious for its Thinneſs. Uſeful Science is an Air much too Groſs for His Intellects: Biting Scorn, and Univerſal Neglect turn their Points on His Conceitedneſs, and while the whole World ſtrives in vain to correct him by Diſgrace and Reproaches, All that Tempeſt to Him is no more, than Blowing Wind in a Bladder, the ſtronger the Puff, the more boiſterous the Swelling.
All this, Mr. Pope muſt reeds know, between his double Capacity, of Poet and Critic; and, if ſo, He has given a Judgment, as well corrupt, as ridiculous, in attributing to Party the Endeavours of Juſtice. But if after all, it was not the Subject, but the Poem, that found no Favour in His Eyes, I will take upon me to aſſure Him, it ſues not for the Bleſſing: Let him like it as ill as He pleaſes, I dare at leaſt, undertake, it ſhall eaſily defend it ſelf againſt any Attack, of His making; which, pray Sir, inform Him, ſince you are His greateſt Admirer, and oblige
Your Moſt Humble Servant, A. HILL.
THE Northern Star. A POEM.
[1]BORN in an Age, when Virtue's Vigour fails,
Where Praiſe is Dumb, or Speaks, as Change prevails;
Where ſtrugling Courage ſtoops to Want's Controll,
And Fortune's ev'ry Tide o'erwhelms the Soul;
Where hard-preſs'd Poverty the Conteſt flies,
And with low Flatt'ry, ſhameful Succour buys;
Where ill-judg'd Worth, by Pow'r, and Wealth, is weigh'd,
And ſervile Poets make their Art a Trade.
Riſe, Genr'ous Muſe! And let the Wand'rers know,
'Tis baſe to Praiſe, where they no Praiſes owe:
That Juſtice ſcorns an undue Fame to ſell;
And Nothing claims Renown, but Doing-well;
That He diſhonours Verſe, who bows his Theme,
To Great Mens Fortune, or to Rich Mens Phlegm;
That, thro' all Forms, the Muſe ſhou'd Merit trace,
A Bleſſing, unconfin'd to Rank, or Place;
[2] That Narrow Minds conceive not Virtue right,
And Worlds, not Realms, ſhou'd be the Poet's Flight.
Extend thy Truth-plum'd Wings, Unbyaſs'd Muſe!
Diſcern with Caution, but with Boldneſs chuſe:
If, in ſome dusky Corner, thou ſhalt find
A ragged Fortune hide a noble Mind,
Diſperſe the Cloud, and be the Labour thine,
To teach ſuch ſhame-fac'd Virtue how to ſhine.
Or, where thou ſeeſt ſome wealthy Churl with-hold
Th' enliv'ning Uſe of His impriſon'd Gold,
If meanly Proud, the Wretch diſdains to weigh
The Wiſe Man's Wants againſt the treaſur'd Clay;
With pointed Satyr pierce his ſtubborn Soul,
Till Senſe of Shame does Pride of Heart controll.
O'er Stateſmens Actions keep a watchful Eye,
The Stains, they make, aſſume the blackeſt Dye!
If, rais'd by Chance, ſome Wretch, not form'd for Sway,
Exerts the Cover'd Beaſt, and hunts for Prey:
If, all untaught in Pow'r, He drives with Rage,
And, bluſt'ring, ſhakes His temporary Stage,
Whiſper unwelcom Notice in His Ear,
That where Abuſe ſpreads wide, Revenge is near.
But ſtay! To nobler Aims addreſs thy View,
And mark the mighty Deeds, which Monarchs do:
[3] Their Good Example ſways unfix'd Mankind,
And dim-ey'd Princes make whole Nations Blind
When God-like Caeſar rul'd Ungrateful Rome,
And Budding Empire ſhot a fragrant Bloom,
His Virtues made thoſe Slaves more bleſt than He,
Who Murder'd Him, to be, unſafely, Free.
When Bloody Nero fill'd That Caeſar's Throne,
Corrupted Juſtice durſt no Virtue own:
Degen'rate Rome became the Villain's Poſt,
And He was ſafeſt, there, whoſe Guilt was moſt.
Undreading, therefore, when Occaſion calls,
Enter Proud Palaces, Imperious Walls;
There, Good, or Ill, detect the reigning Fact,
For Truth is Truth, however Princes act.
Sublimely fir'd, I ſnatch the Glorious Aim,
'Tis Great indeed, to give the Royal Fame!
But, where, O! Spotleſs Light of Reaſon's Eye!
Where, among Princes, ſhall I Virtue ſpy?
Shall my own Sov'reign's Praiſe enrich my Lines?
No:—With known Force, Domeſtick Glory ſhines:
Vain were the Thought, and needleſs the Deſign,
To ſay, to Angels, Heav'n is all Divine.
Northward, unbridl'd Muſe! Direct thy Flight,
Where a New Sun adorns the Land of (1) Night:
[4] Where Arts, and Arms, a Riſing Empire ſound,
Doom'd to refine the World, and Girt it round.
Thou, Mighty CZAR! in that (2) Contracted Name,
Shalt out-weigh Caeſar, in thy Pow'r and Fame!
Led by thy Forming Hand, Victorious ſtill,
And almoſt New-created, by Thy Skill,
Intrepid Legions wait thy Doomful Nod,
As Hoſts, from Moſes, watch'd the Will of God.
Thou, God like Object of my Muſe's Praiſe,
Thou, Beſt Invok'd! Inſpire my Riſing Lays!
Kindle my Glowing Soul with Fire like Thine,
And lend me Bluze, to make Thy Wonders ſhine.
Tho' right to mark How tow'ring Eagles fly,
Requires the Sharpneſs of an Eagle's Eye,
Tho' High-rais'd View does beſt a Proſpect ſhow,
Which He can Ill deſcribe who ſtands too low,
Yet, if, aſpiring to the Theme, I find
Thy Glory's Luſtre ſtrike my op'ning Mind,
O! Prince, the Grateful Arrogance forgive!
No Genuine Muſe, ſo charm'd, can ſilent live!
Periſh that narrow Pride, from Cuſtom grown,
That makes Men blind to Merits not their own:
Briton, and Ruſſian, differ but in Name,
In Nature's Senſe, All Nations are the ſame:
One Univerſe claims One Creator's Care,
And Man is Reaſon's Subject Every-where.
[5]While untrac'd Nile, with ſwelling Torrent ſtrays,
And Oozy Wealth, in Annual Floods, conveys,
Memphia's rich Plains confeſs'd Improvement know,
And to the ſpreading Stream, Huge Harveſts owe:
Yet does not Egypt, ſingly, praiſe the Nile,
Which, greatly partial, does on Egypt ſmile:
Egypt, and All the World, the River claim;
Egypt, in Influence, and the World, in Fame:
So Ruſſia, neareſt, feals the Inbred Heat:
But the warm'd World the diſtant Brightneſs greet.
Ages, obſcurely paſs'd, unmark'd by Fame,
Had almoſt robb'd this Empire of its Name:
Unmeaſur'd States lay hid, in noiſeleſs Reign,
And Ruſſia took up half our World in vain:
Weakly inſpir'd, the Maſs did ſlowly roll,
Like ſome huge Giant, with a Pigmy's Soul:
Till Ripening Time an Equal Genius ſent,
Divinely ſiz'd to ſuit the vaſt Event:
He breath'd Prolific Vigour o'er the Land,
And moulded Order, with his skilful Hand;
The ſwelling Energy of Pow'r ſpread wide,
And bore down proud Obſtruction like a Tide:
In ſudden State, a dreadful Empire roſe
Which, Late, no Hope, and, Now, no Danger knows.
[6]In Marble Quarries, thus, to ſwell their Gain,
Men blow up hollow Rocks, with nitrous Grain;
Too weak, at firſt, the Blaſt oft fails its End,
And fruſtrate Clouds, with forceleſs Flaſh, aſcend:
But when, well ſuited to the Cavern's Size,
A ſtronger Heap th' experienc'd Artiſt tries,
No more, in vain, th' expandid Thunder breaks,
But, burſting All, impetuous Paſſage makes:
The groaning Mountain Nods, with rugged State,
And yields, reluctant, to its forceful Fate:
The Cave, unroof'd, with ſudden Splendor, bright,
Glitters, with mingled Rocks, and New-born Light.
Did not, O Prince! Thy Love of Art's ſoft Charms
Ungrind the keener Influence of thy Arms;
Well might the Jealous World malign Thy Sway,
And, anxious, wink, againſt Thy Stream of Day!
But Thy Great Soul has taught Thee, that the Brave
Wiſh not to conquer, but with View to ſave:
That 'tis a Monarch's Task to ſteer his Reign,
Betwixt the wild Extremes of Mean, and Vain:
To curb Preſumption's Childhood with Reſtraint,
And puniſh Treaſon, while 'tis call'd Complaint:
The nobleſt Way, to make His Subjects Free,
They ſafe in Property, in Empire, He.
[7]Knowledge, with Joy, ſhould conſecrate to Fame
The lucid Clearneſs of Her Champion's Flame:
His Double-graſping Hand, at once, diſplays
The Martial Laurel, and the Peaceful Bays:
Beneath His Shade, where no bold Tempeſts blow,
Safely, they twine together, as they grow:
Not ſo, of old, when, fierce, in horrid Arms,
The needy North pour'd forth Her Gothick Swarms:
Roughly they warr'd, on Worth they could not taſte,
And, blindly, laid the Tracks of Learning waſte:
This Heav'n remembred, and, with Kind Command,
Call'd for Attonement from the barb'rous Land,
The Conſcious Prince, Diſdainful of the Crime,
Guiltleſs, ſprings forward, to Uncurſe His Clime,
And nobly vows, to teach the Nations more,
Than the World's Empire, Ruin'd, Loſt before.
Illuſtrious Nature! Fitly fram'd for Pow'r!
So Gods, for Incenſe, did their Bleſſings ſhow'r!
So Ruſſia's Chief, Himſelf a God, in This,
Rewards Subjection, with unmeaſur'd Bliſs!
How vaſt the Engine! And the Force how Great!
That can, ſo ſwiftly move ſuch Pond'rous Weight!
Enormous Man! who, while His boundleſs Sway
O'erſpreads a Crowd of Nations ev'ry Way,
Meaſures not Greatneſs by His Country's Length,
Nor will to kneeling Millions owe His Strength:
[8] But, Heav'n-like Self-dependent, Vigour ſhows,
And gives, not takes, what Pow'r from Number flows.
Divinely ſtor'd with Views, and rich in Schemes
For Loading Fame with everlaſting Themes;
With Glories He Enamels o'er a Land,
Which almoſt ow'd Diſtinction (3) to His Hand.
From frozen Climes, where Nature, ſtiff with Cold,
Nouriſh'd no Hope, and, without Joy, grew Old,
Warm'd by the Monarch's Worth, we riſing ſaw,
A Spring of Virtue, and a Bloom of Law.
Doubly ſupreme, This Prince, with wide Controll,
Directs the Body, and impow'rs the Soul:
While Common Kings their Views ſupinely ſcan,
And meaſure what they Will, by what they Can,
Thou do'ſt, at once, with overpow'ring Sway,
Command, and make Men Able to Obey.
Tranſporting Thought! Let me indulge thee long:
Thou ſhew'ſt what Cauſe makes Crowns, and Kingdoms, ſtrong!
No more, by Civil Broils, let Nations bleed
For fancy'd Benefits, they do not need:
Thoſe Subjects the moſt Glorious Freedom ſhare,
Whom We call Slaves, in ſuch a Sovereign's Care.
Slaves are low Wretches, who, deceiv'd by Names,
Promote, unknowingly, their Spoiler's Aims:
[9] Who dream, Rebellion makes a Nation free,
And hug new Chains, miſtook for Liberty;
Till, waking into Thought, they miſs their Gain,
And kick againſt ſome Fellow-Traytor's Reign.
If juſt Athenians, by their Theſeus led,
Theſeus, who gave their ſcatter'd Limbs a (4) Head;
In laſting Praiſe, embalm'd His cheriſh'd Fame,
When Nought of His was left 'em, but His Name.
If wiſe Licurgus is immortal grown,
He, whom Laconia Proudly call'd Her own;
Whoſe worſhip'd Ghoſt kept Living Pow'r in Awe,
And gave a long Deſcent of Hero's Law:
If Romulus lives, Glorious, to this Day,
For pointing out to Rome her future Way:
For calling Courage in, from Private Harms,
To mightier Miſchief, in united Arms,
What Praiſe, Prodigious Prince! Shall dare to tread,
In awful Circles, near thy ſacred Head!
To whom, not one ſmall Portion, ſingly, kneels,
In Thanks for ſep'rate Benefits it feels;
But Nations, (5) Numberleſs, as Lybian Sands,
Adore the Bounties of thy Reaching Hands;
Thy Hands, to whom, Delighted with thy Praiſe,
God, gave not Lands to Govern, but to Raiſe.
New-blown Ambition fires each Northern Soul,
And thaws the Icy Influence of the Pole:
[10] The ſhaggy (6) Samoid, ſhaking off his Snow,
Warms His cold Breaſt, with New Deſire to Know:
The rugged Tartars, from whoſe ſwarthy Bands,
A Gloom of Horror us'd to ſhade Thy Lands;
Charm'd with Thy Virtues, bow before Thy Throne,
Aſſume new Natures, and fix'd Dwellings own.
New Beams of Learning, active as the Wind,
Now firſt break out, and light up Half Mankind:
Dark Superſtition, like a Miſt, diſpell'd,
Quits a Dominion, thro' Long Ages held;
And Ruſſian Arms a glitt'ring Terror caſt,
O'er Lands, where ſcarce the Ruſſian (7) Name has paſt.
Shame on the Bards of our degen'rate Days,
Who proſtitute to Gain their ſullied Lays!
Who think it needleſs for a Muſe to roam;
And, poorly, place their whole Regard at Home.
The World's my Country; Born, no matter where,
Man is a Denizen of Earth and Air!
The Juſt, who, in full Light, All Merit ſhow,
Love, ev'n, the Hoſtile Virtues of a Foe.
Weak, with Aſtoniſhment, my Verſe purſues,
And flags beneath, this tow'ring Prince's Views:
Where are the loſt Effects of Stateſmens Wiles?
Whoſe ill-ſchem'd Policy the World beguiles!
How have they vainly beat one devious Road!
And ſigh'd, at Growing France, with falſe Forebode!
[11] While, Unobſerv'd, th' exulting Northern Bear,
Grin'd, over Univerſal Empire there!
Thence ſudden Fleets have ſhadow'd diſtant (8) Seas,
With Pow'r, ſelf-raiſed, and Scorning ſlow Degrees:
At Pleaſure they deſcend on Ev'ry Shore,
And ſtarting Nations hear new Thunder roar.
The Swede, alarm'd, does Fortune's Change upbraid,
And ſees th' aſſaulted Enemy invade:
Th' aſſiſted Dane learns Jealouſy from Fear,
And hates his Helper's Strength, diſplay'd too near:
The furrow'd Baltick a Third Lord obeys,
And to ſtrange Keels, Unwilling Homage pays.
The Virgin (9) Caſpian This bold Lover woo's,
Nor vainly for Her envy'd Favour ſues:
Already won, She has Her Love confeſt,
And giv'n Him Leave to wander o'er her Breaſt:
Perſia's heap'd Wealth will Her huge Portion be:
And Eaſtern Kings ſhall give Her Lord the Knee.
A Rival Pow'r, in Naval Struggle (10) try'd,
And ſtretch'd along the ſtormy Euxine's Side:
Has taught the Porte's Imperial Walls to ſhake,
And ſhall, the Sultan's Iron Scepter break:
Grecia's loſt Fame ſhall be reſtor'd by Thee,
O Monarch! Doom'd to ſet an Empire free!
[12] Yok'd (11) Helleſpont, whoſe Stream, ſubmiſſive glides
Indignant, and a conquer'd World divides:
Shall ſee, while, thence, Thy burſting Thunder roars,
Europe, and Aſia, trembling to Her Shores.
Thence may the floating Tow'rs, which boaſt thy Sway,
New-greet their Ruſſia, by an (12) untry'd Way.
While, thus, thy awful Pow'r more awful grows,
They ſwell Thy Glory, who Thy Aims oppoſe:
The ſelf-priz'd Lords of China's boaſted Land,
Feel their Pride (13) faint, beneath thy Pow'rful Hand:
The Trackleſs Wilds, which both vaſt States divide,
Are, yearly, ev'n when arm'd with Winter, try'd:
O'er Realms of Snow thy fearleſs Sleds can fly,
And bring, at Eaſe, the dreadful Diſtance nigh:
In vain, oppos'd, their long-fam'd Wall they ſee,
It keeps them In, but cannot keep Out Thee!
Zemla's High Cliffs, Eternal Hills of Froſt!
Where proud Diſcov'ry has ſo oft been (14) loſt,
Thro' all the Ages of the World, till now,
Have check'd the Keels, that wou'd thoſe Oceans Plough;
Like Nature's Barrier's, they all Search withſtood,
And bound Ambition up in freezing Blood;
Reſerv'd by Fate, and for thy Reign deſign'd,
Thy piercing Eye ſhall the wiſh'd Paſſage find;
Or to the Weſtern World, the Eaſtern join,
And ſee the Profit, and the Glory Thine.
[13]Stop, Headſtrong Muſe! And e'er we Higher go,
Look down, with Caution, on the Depth below;
Proſpects, ſo vaſt, the Raſh Approacher fright,
And, dazling, wound the uncollected Sight:
Congratulate, a while, the promis'd Gain,
And, with ſome Joy, relax Thy Wonder's Strain!
Shall then, at laſt, beneath propitious Skies,
The Croſs, triumphant, o'er the Creſcent, riſe!
Shall we behold Earth's long-ſuſtain'd Diſgrace
Reveng'd, in Arms, on Oſman's haughty Race!
Shall modern Greece ſhake off a Captive's Shame,
And look, unbluſhing, at Her Antient Fame!
Shall Orphans ceaſe, in vain, loſt Bliſs to know,
And curſe the thriving Authors of their Woe!
Shall Widows, old in Chains, their Offspring ſave,
And weep, lamented, o'er their Husband's Grave!
'Twill be! Prophetic (15) Greece rehopes Her-Own:
And Hails Her Caeſar, on the Ruſſian Throne!
Athens again ſhall teach; Corinth aſpire;
And Theban Breaſts glow, with rekindling Fire:
Once more Bizantium, deſtin'd long to ſhine,
Shall rear the ruin'd Name of Conſtantine.
Tranſcendent Prince! How happy muſt thou be!
What canſt thou look upon, unbleſs'd by Thee!
[14] What inward Peace muſt Thy brave Boſom know,
Whence Conſcious Virtue does, ſo ſtrongly, flow!
The Toil of Ages paſt in Ruins lies,
How well-tim'd, therefore, does Thy Greatneſs riſe!
To ſhew how ſwiftly deſtin'd Glory climbs,
And build Examples, for ſucceeding Times!
Such are the Kings, who make God's Image ſhine,
And, juſtly, dare aſſert their Right Divine!
No Earth-born Love of Rapine whets their Will,
Or tempts their Pow'r, Unhoſtile Blood to ſpill;
But, mindful with what Hope Wiſe Men obey,
They ſhow'r down Comforts from their gentle Sway;
To raiſe the Humble, They extend their Hand,
And chaſe Oppreſſion from their Reſcu'd Land:
With well-weigh'd Juſtice, They both ſheath, and draw,
The Sword of Battle, and the Sword of Law:
Skill'd in the Means, They never miſs the End;
But govern, Cool, what They, with Warmth, defend.
How bleſt were Man, wou'd Heav'n, hereafter, pleaſe,
That all Earth's Princes ſhou'd be form'd like Theſe!
Wiſh it, O Muſe, howe'er the Wiſh be Vain;
It gives ſome Joy to hope th' unlikely'ſt Gain:
Let me, at leaſt, the fancy'd Change create!
And hug the Proſpect of a Bliſs, too Great:
Say, Muſe! What Happineſs from Thence might flow?
And what Improvement wou'd blind Fortune know?
[15]Were ſuch the Happy State of Nations made,
No ſilent Modeſty wou'd Merit ſhade:
The Rays of Honour, ſcatter'd wide about,
Wou'd reach to Virtue, or enquire Her out:
Diſtreſsful Innocence wou'd Shelter ſind,
And Senſe of Miſ'ry make the Mighty kind:
A faithful Miniſter Each Poſt wou'd fill,
Not rais'd by Faction, but preferr'd for Skill.
The Judges Bench, by Juſtice, crown'd with Awe,
Wou'd break that Bulk of Form, which blunts the Law:
Wou'd, from Oppreſſion, cleanſe the Road to Right,
And clear the Films of Brib'ry from Men's Sight.
Truth, always own'd, wou'd need no Help from Pow'r,
Nor Rich Mens Wills the Poor Man's Wants devour:
Diſtinguiſh'd Diſtribution wou'd ariſe,
And, to Deſerve, wou'd be to Win, the Prize.
Thou, Ruſſian Star! That makes the Pole outſhine
The Torrid Brightneſs of the Burning Line!
Drawn by Thy beamy Force, I ſtill wou'd gaze;
But my Eyes ake, beneath th' oppreſſive Blaze!
Deſcend, Raſh Muſe! From the bold Theme retire;
Thy Fall were dang'rous, if thy Flight were higher!
Forbear, Great Prince! nor, with ſuch Swiftneſs, bleſs;
Shook by our Fears, we wiſh Thy Merit leſs:
[16] Say, what new Heights were left, for Thee to try,
If, as thy Fame, thy Body cou'd not die?
And Heav'n will ſcarce thy Now-mourn'd Abſence bear,
When Earth yields no New Labour, worth Thy Care!
But, while, amaz'd, Thy Miracles we trace,
Teach us, where, firſt, we ſhou'd our Wonder place:
Hard the Deciſion! Which Moſt Honour won,
Thy Actions, or the Speed, with which they're done!
When Rome, that Glitt'ring, that Immortal, Name,
Aſpir'd to Rule, and panted after Fame,
Age copying Age, ſtrove, with progreſſive Will,
To puſh the ſame Deſign, with Equal Skill:
And, when Eight (16) hundred Lab'ring Years were paſt,
The late propitious Fortune ſmil'd at laſt.
Not ſuch ſlow Riſe, O Prince! Thy Ruſſia fears:
Thou ſee'ſt not Glory thro' ſuch Depth of Years:
At once reſolv'd, at once the Columns riſe,
Which lift thy dreadful Fabrick to the Skies:
Form, and Degrees, let Earthy Spirits need,
Thy Soul, Excentric, moves, with inbred Speed;
Makes Nature ſhake; and raiſes, in a Day,
What, with leſs Eaſe, in Ages, ſhall decay!
So, when young Time, in Chains, Exiſtence kept,
And huddl'd Nature in dark Chaos ſlept,
[17] Th' Eternal Word, to ſet Diſtinction free,
But ſpoke th' Almighty Fiat—Let there Be.
Millions of Ways the ſtarting Atoms flew;
Like clung to Like, and ſudden Order grew:
Sruggling in Clouds, a-while, Confuſion lay;
Then dy'd, at once, and loſt it ſelf in Day.
Explanatory NOTES, Referr'd to, in the POEM.
[19](1) I Call Ruſſia The Land of Night, not only Literally, as its general Diſtance from the Sun occaſions tedious and uncomfortable Winters, but alſo in a Me⯑taphorical Senſe, becauſe an almoſt total Abſence of the Arts (till this Czar's Reign) had wrapt the Country in a Night of Ignorance.
(2) In that Contracted Name. Czar is a Contraction of the Word Caeſar, and is us'd to ſignify a King, or Emperor, not only in the Ruſſian Tongue, but the Scla⯑vonian, and ſome others; and, no doubt, deriv'd its Riſe from that Title of the Roman Emperors. Nor is there any other Difference in the Words than the Contraction only, ſince the antient Latin Pronunciation was not Caeſar, as we ſpeak it, but the C being pronounc'd as a K, made Kaiſar, and, in that Manner, it was undoubtedly ſpoken by the Romans. The Germans have no other Title for the Emperors to this Day, than Kaiſar, which the ſmalleſt Variation changes into Czar, according to the Ruſſian Appellation.
(3) Almoſt ow'd Diſtinction to his Hand. Tho' the Czars of Ruſſia have for many Ages been poſſeſs'd of very large Dominions, and a Power as extenſive, and un⯑bounded, as moſt other Princes; yet, partly by their diſtant Situation, and partly by their Want of Skill in Arms and Arts, it is certain that they are but lately become Known to theſe Parts of Europe, and were never formidable, 'till they ow'd it to the Genius of their preſent Monarch.
(4) Gave their ſcatter'd Limbs a Head. Every Body knows that Theſeus gather'd the Athenians into a Body, from a diſpers'd and ſolitary Way of living; and founded and peopled the City of Athens, which was before but a little Village, tho' a Kingly Seat, where he brought them to a Reliſh of Society, and uſefully, inſtructed them in the Knowledge of improving their united Power.
(5) Nations, Numberleſs as Lybian Sands. The Hyperbole may plead more than Poetical Licence to excuſe it; for, if, according to the Practice of Great Part of the Eaſt, and the Weſt-Indies, each diſtinct Tribe or Herd, may be indulg'd in their Ambition to be thought a particular Nation, as moſt Writers have practis'd, Then may the petty Herds of Tartars, almoſt every where ſurrounding Ruſſia, added to the wild Variety of Inhabitants in Siberia, Samoieda, &c. who depend upon the Czar, be call'd Numberleſs, without much Help from the Hyperbole.
(6) The Shaggy Samoid. The Samoiedes are a People ſubject to the Czar, and in⯑habiting a large Tract of Land, from Nova Zemla, to the Neighbourhood of Arch⯑angel, and extending along the Tartarian Sea. They neither Plough nor Sow, their Country being too cold to produce Corn; ſo that they live chiefly on dry'd Fiſh and Turneps, and the Fleſh of a Kind of Deer, which feeds on the Moſs of their Heaths: And, with the Skins of theſe Deer, having a very thick, warm Fur, they cloath and defend themſelves from the Sharpneſs of the Froſt, and covering them⯑ſelves all over, keep the Snow from blowing in at their Necks; and live three Months, in the Year, without Sight of the Sun.
(7) O'er Lands, where ſcarce the Ruſſian Name has paſt. Notwithſtanding the juſt Notion, which Europe has conceiv'd for ſome Years paſt, of the formidable Power of the Ruſſian Arms, yet is their Country ſo little known, to the Generality of other Nations, that it is almoſt Univerſally called Muſcovy, tho' that is only the Name of its old Capital Muſcow: And the Engliſh might, with the ſame Juſtice, in fo⯑reign Countries, be called by no other Name than The Londoners.
(8) Thence ſudden Fleets have ſhadow'd Diſtant Seas. It is known, that the Cza [...] has on a ſudden, cover'd the Baltick, with a powerful Fleet of Men of War and Gallies; which was ſufficiently ſeen, when He tranſported His Army to join with the King of Denmark, in the intended Deſcent upon Schonen: And on the other Side of His Dominions, He has built a Fleet againſt the Turks, to ſerve upon the Black-Sea, moſt of which Ships, being of very great Force, were built at Vero⯑nize, a Town ſeated on a Branch of the famous Tanais, and falling into the Palue Maotis, not far from the City of Azoph.
[20] (9) The V [...]rgin Caſpian. The Czar has caus'd Ships to be ſent down the Volga into the Caſpian-Sea, to make Diſcoveries on the Side of Georgia, Perſia, Armenia, and independant Tartary, and a conſiderable Trade, for the Products of the Eaſt-Indies, is already carried on, from ſeveral Ports in that Sea, to Aſtracan, and thence diſpers'd over Ruſſia, by the Volga and the Don. This Sea is call'd the Virgin-Caſpian, becauſe it has no known Communication with any other, being the largeſt Lake in the Univerſe, about five hundred Miles long, and, in Breadth, four hundred; and by Means of this Sea, the Czar has at all Times, an Inlet into the Heart of Perſ [...]a and the Indies, whenever he ſhall think of extending His Conqueſts that Way.
(10) A Rival Power, in Naval Struggle try'd. The Turks, 'till the Reign of this Illuſtrious Prince the Czar, poſſeſs'd Entire Dominion in the Euxine: But the Ruſſian Fleets can now diſpute their Title; and, of this, the Turks have had Ex⯑perience ever ſince the Year 1696. when the Loſs of Azoph was the Conſequence of an Overthrow at Sea, by the Ruſſian Gallies, commanded by the Czar in Per⯑ſ [...]n. The Terror this Defeat occaſion'd at Conſtantinople was ſo great, that they built new Caſtles on the Boſphorus, and took all poſſible Precautions to prevent ſome future Attempt that Way, by the Ruſſian Navy; but ſo much in Vain, that I am convinc [...]d and could juſtify it by Reaſon and Demonſtration, that, if the Czar ſhou'd, as it is now likely he will, declare War againſt the Turks, he may, with the ſmalleſt Expence, or Hazard, imaginable, begin his Succeſs by laying Conſtantinople in Aſhes, or poſſeſſing it, if he pleaſes, and maintaining it againſt all poſſible Efforts of the Ottoman Power.
(11) Yok'd Helleſpont. The Paſſage of this famous Chanel is guarded, and made as the Turks falſly believe, impoſſible to be forc'd, by two old Caſtles, called the Dardanelles; one ſeated on the Aſian Side, the other on the European, about three Quarters of a Mile aſunder; and having each a Platform of prodigious out⯑of-Size Artillery, carrying Stone Bullets of two or three Foot Diameter.
(12) Now greet their Ruſſia by an untry'd Way. If Conſtantinople were in the Hands of the Czar; and the Helleſpont; by that Means ſubject to Him, His Ships from the South Parts of His Dominions, bordering on Circaſſia, might, thro' the Boſphorus, Propontis, Helleſpont, and Aegean, paſs into the Mediterran an, and coming thro' the Streights Mouth, ſail Northward, and reach Ruſſia again, at the Port of Archangel.
(13) Feel their Pride ſhake, &c. The Chineſe, tho' vaſtly diſtant from Ruſſia, have been warr'd upon by that Nation, and made to conceive very different Idea's of them, from thoſe which their Pride had before ſuggeſted to them: And the Czar duely ſenſible of the many Advantages, which may ariſe from a perfect Diſ⯑covery of that Immenſity of Deſart, which divides Him from China, has com⯑pleated that Deſign, and built Forts and large Towns, all the Way, at proper Di⯑ſtances, for the Defence, and Entertainment of His Subjects, who travel, every Year from one Empire to the other by Land, carrying out and bringing back ſuch Commodities, as are moſt in Demand by the Merchants of both Nations. They ſet out, when the Winter has cover'd all the Country with Snow, and the Surface of that Snow is ſo harden'd by Froſt, that they are drawn with great Swift⯑neſs over it, in Sleds, by a large Kind of Deer; they, who ride in the Sled, being cover'd with thick, and warm Furs, for Defence againſt the Severity of the Cold.
(14) Where Proud Diſcov'ry has ſo oft been loſt. Abundance of Ships have been loſt, and great Numbers of excellent Mariners been frozen to Death, in the Search of a North Eaſtern Paſſage to China and Japan, by the Way of Nova Zemla, and the great Sea of Tartary. If there is ſuch a Paſſage, as there muſt be, unleſs the Ruſſian Dominions are join'd on the North, to America, The Czar has a Deſign to diſcover it; and will undoubtedly ſucceed in it, becauſe His Situation affords him an Advantage, which no other Monarch is Maſter of.
(15) Prophetic Greece re-hopes Her own. There has, long, been a Prophecy among the Greeks. that their Redemption from the Turkiſh Yoke, ſhall be owing to a fair, white hair'd People from the North; and they are ſtrongly, and univerſally per⯑ſwaded, that the Ruſſians are the People, meant in the Prophecy.
(16) And, when eight hundred lab'ring Tears were paſt. Tho' the Romans, aſſiſted by the Strength of their National Virtue, in the Infancy of their Power, grew ſud⯑denly Glorious, yet they reach'd not the Height of their Empire, till the Days of Trajan; which Summit of Authority is hinted at by the Aſpiring to Rule, and Panting after Fame, in the Poem.
FINIS.